Dog Saved After Falling Through Ice On Frozen Pond

MONTAUK, NY — First responders rushed to rescue a dog who fell through the ice at a Montauk pond Monday.

According to Eddie Ecker of the Montauk Fire Department, the owner of the dog, a man who identified himself only as Charlie and who lives on Cranberry Road in the Culloden Shores area of Montauk, was walking with his dog Zeus by a pond at 5:15 p.m. when the pooch fell through the ice.

Zeus, Ecker said, is a "good-sized dog"; he was out on the melting ice when it gave way.

After his owner called for help, about 30 first responders headed to the pond in the pouring rain. "The weather was pretty bad," Ecker said.

But the soggy skies didn't dampen the determination of those working to save the dog: One volunteer, Peter Joyce Jr. "put on some waders and broke through the ice to get him back to shore," Ecker said.

The ice can be deceptive while it's melting; so far this year there have been two or three other rescues of animals who fell through, Ecker said.

His owner felt "very, very good" to get his dog back safely, Ecker said.